A former personal assistant of JK Rowling who is accused of fraudulently using her credit card to go on spending sprees was a "good liar", the Harry Potter author's husband has told a court.

Dr Neil Murray said Amanda Donaldson was employed to organise his wife's business and personal matters.

He said she was suspended and later dismissed in 2017 over alleged unauthorised spending that included £3,629 in cosmetics store Molton Brown, £2,139 in stationery shop Paper Tiger and more than £1,800 in Starbucks and Costa.

The civil case at Airdrie Sheriff Court heard Dr Murray was a co-manager of his wife's business affairs and an accountant raised concerns with him over Ms Donaldson's spending between 2017 and 2017.

He said the biggest concern was over cash withdrawals of £400 and £250 in December 2016 that Ms Donaldson claimed were for a Christmas lunch deposit.

Chartered accounted Steven Simou earlier told the court he had contacted the restaurant and found no deposit had been requested or taken off the final bill.